DE102018204914A1 - Domestic refrigerating appliance with a coupling with an air circulation storage container, which may be arranged in different positions in a storage area - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a household refrigerating appliance (1) with a housing (2) in which at least one storage area (4, 5) for foodstuffs is formed, with an air circulation, with which cold air (L) can be introduced into the storage area (4, 5) is, wherein the air circuit outlet openings (15, 16, 17, 18), from which cold air (L) in the storage area (4, 5) can flow, with a storage container (19) for food, in the storage area (4 5), and with a door (6, 7) for closing the storage area (4, 5), which is movably arranged on the housing (2), the storage container (19) being in a coupling position in the storage area (4). 4, 5) is coupled to the air circuit and in a coupled state cold air (L) of the air circuit in the storage container (4, 5) can be flowed, wherein the storage container (19) in a coupled state to the decoupled state in the storage area (4 , 5) is positionable, in which the bearing container (19) is decoupled from an outlet opening (15 to 18) and in which it is completely disposed within the storage area (4, 5) when the door (6, 7) is closed.

Description

The invention relates to a household refrigerator with a housing in which at least one storage area is designed for food. The household refrigeration appliance also has an air circulation, with which cold air can be introduced into the storage area. The air circuit has outlet openings from which cold air can flow into this storage area. In addition, the household refrigerator has a storage container for food, which is arranged displaceably in the storage area. Furthermore, the domestic refrigerator has a door which is designed and arranged for closing the storage area. The door is movably arranged on the housing. The storage container is coupled in a coupling position in the storage area with the air circuit and in a coupled state cold air of the air circuit can be flowed into the storage area.

Such a configuration is for example from the DE 10 2009 000 847 A1 known. The local storage container is designed for storing bottles. In the depth direction of the household refrigerating appliance, this storage container has dimensions that only in the fully pushed back and thus only in a coupled state with an air circuit allow this storage container with the stored goods, especially the bottles, fits into the storage area. The local storage container can therefore only be used in such a way in the storage room, that he is forcibly in the coupled state in the running circuit. Otherwise, the storage room front would not be closed by the door.

The usability of the storage container is therefore limited.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a household refrigerator, in which the positioning of a storage container is made more flexible in a storage area of the household refrigerator.

This object is achieved by a household refrigerator according to the features of claim 1.

One aspect of the invention relates to a household refrigerating appliance with a housing in which at least one storage area for foodstuffs is formed. The household refrigerator has an air circuit with which cold air can be introduced into the storage area. The air circuit has outlet openings from which cold air can flow into the storage area. Furthermore, the household refrigerating appliance has at least one storage container, which is designed separately from the storage area. The storage container is designed for storing food. This storage container is arranged displaceably or movably in the storage area. The household refrigerator also has a door for closing the storage area. The door is movably arranged on the housing. The storage container is coupled in a coupling position in the storage area with the air circuit. In this coupled state cold air of the air circuit can be flowed into the storage area. The storage container can be positioned in a decoupled to the coupled state state in the storage area in which the storage container is decoupled from the air circuit and in which it is located completely closed within the storage area with the door closed. The air circuit is designed such that cold air from outside the storage area can flow into the storage area via the outlet openings. In the coupled state of the storage container with the air circulation, in particular via the outlet openings, thus targeted cold air can be introduced directly into the storage container itself as needed. This allows individual cooling of the stored goods in the storage container itself. In particular, a rapid cooling function is thereby formed with which the stored goods in the storage container can be cooled rapidly.

On the other hand, however, if it is desired not to cool the stored goods in the storage container quickly or to produce individual storage conditions in the storage container in which the cold air from the air circuit is not desired or not essential, it is now possible by the invention, the Storage container completely decouple from the air circuit, so that no more coupling is directly formed with an outlet opening and thus no direct inflow of cold air through the outlet opening into the storage container takes place. Even in this decoupled position, however, the storage container is arranged within the storage area and the door is closed. It is therefore in the context of a dimensioning formed, which makes it possible to position this storage container in the decoupled state of the air circuit completely within the storage area and still be able to close the door. This is very advantageous in that since, for the first time, such a second positioning state is also possible with the door closed in the storage area for the storage container. Thus, even in this decoupled state of the storage container considered to be subject to further individual storage conditions and / or storage conditions, as prevail in the storage area itself, are suspended. These can then be maintained. Just when no quick cooling function for the stored goods in the storage container is required or not desired, however, can in this decoupled position a needs-based Storage in the storage area itself permanently be enabled.

It is preferably provided that the storage container has a coupling channel on a rear wall, with which a coupling with an outlet opening can be generated, so that in the coupled state cold air can flow directly into the interior of the storage container via the outlet opening and the coupling channel. By this rearward configuration of this coupling channel, a coupling with an outlet opening can be achieved automatically and purposefully when inserting the storage container. A positioning of the storage container for setting the coupled state is therefore easy and fast.

It is preferably provided that the coupling channel is formed integrally with the storage container. This allows a component-reduced design. Moreover, it is achieved in that assembly effort is saved and the coupling channel is permanently positioned accurately positioned on the storage container.

It is preferably provided that the coupling channel is formed as projecting from the rear wall to the rear pipe socket or gutter pipe. By such a configuration, a particularly simple and secure coupling is possible, on the other hand realizes a particularly direct and trained with short distance flow channel. This allows a particularly rapid introduction of cold air into the interior of the storage container.

It can be provided that the coupling channel has a closure element, so that in the decoupled state of the coupling channel is also closed. Such a closure may for example be a flap or a membrane or the like. Also, a valve may be provided in this regard. It can be provided that such a closure element is automatically opened when coupled with the outlet opening. This can be the case, for example, by pivoting a flap.

It is preferably provided that the storage container is a container with a shell and a lid. The storage container is thus completely closed in the attached state of the lid in an advantageous manner. Such a configuration, a storage container can be formed as a self-contained box or box, so that the storage of stored goods can be done individually. There are thus individually adjustable storage conditions that may be different from the storage conditions outside the storage container.

It can be provided in an advantageous manner that the lid can be arranged in different positions to the shell, so that also a complete closure or a partial opening can be formed as needed.

It is preferably provided that the air circuit has an air duct on a rear wall, this rear wall defining the storage area. The outlet openings are formed in particular on the air channel. In particular, the air circuit has an evaporator chamber which is separate from the storage area. In the evaporator chamber, an evaporator may be arranged. Advantageously, the air circuit also has a fan, with which an air flow in the air circuit can be generated.

In particular, a quick cooling function for the interior of the storage container is formed by the coupled state.

The storage container is in particular a bottle storage container in which bottles can thus be stored individually. Due to the above-mentioned aspect, it is therefore possible that in the coupled state advantageously a quick cooling function for the bottles is generated so that they can be cooled as needed very quickly to a specific temperature. In the decoupled state, it is then possible that the bottles can be stored in the storage container and can be cooled accordingly, since the storage container continues to fit in the storage area. It is therefore not necessary to remove the storage container from the storage area after completion of the coupled state, otherwise the door of the household appliance could not be closed.

It is preferably provided that the air circuit has a locking device, with which in the coupled state other, in particular all other outlet openings are lockable. As a result, in a particularly advantageous manner, a circumferential air volume of the cold air can be conducted quickly into the storage container, so that a particularly rapid cooling in the interior of the storage container is made possible.

Advantageously, the obstruction is a sliding plate, which is in particular purely mechanically actuated. As a result, a particularly simple system is created to obstruct or release outlet openings. In particular, the sliding plate can be moved by a user to obstruct or release one or more outlet openings.

In particular, the air circuit has a multi-air duct system. This multi-air duct system has at least one flow channel or an air duct. In this air is circulated and passed through the mentioned outlet openings at least in the storage area. A fan makes the circulation of this cold air.

This idea of the invention is applicable to a variety of types of domestic refrigerators by employing one or more of the embodiments described below. In a simple household appliance type, essentially the entire interior consists of the storage area. In another type of household appliance, the interior consists essentially of a receiving space for food, in which a conventional cooling takes place and a storage area, which has a humidifying device. Both of the above-described types can also additionally have a freezer area.

Furthermore, the idea of the invention can be applied, on the one hand, to static domestic refrigerators, typically with an evaporator suspended freely in the interior, or an evaporator arranged in the rear wall.

On the other hand, the idea of the invention can also be applied to no-frost domestic refrigerators, typically with an evaporator separated from a storage space for refrigerated goods, in particular a fin evaporator, which is connected to the storage space by means of an air duct.

Preferably, the household refrigerator is a no-frost household refrigeration appliance. Thus, it is thus particularly advantageous if the household refrigerating appliance is a no-frost domestic refrigerating appliance with a no-frost cooling technology device.

A no-frost household refrigerator is equipped with a no-frost technology. As a no-frost technique, a technical process is referred to, in which the humidity is reduced in a designed as a freezer compartment interior. As a result, the food does not frost or significantly reduced and a defrosting of the freezer compartment can be omitted or only needs to be carried out in significantly reduced time cycles. In such a no-frost technique, for example, cooling elements designed as cooling fins, and thus a heat exchanger of the secondary circuit, lie in a separate area in the interior space. During the cooling phase, the cold air is then introduced from this separated area in the interior and thus the freezer compartment by a fan. These devices are designed so that air circulates through all compartments of the interior and enters the cycle again in the separated area. Since cold air holds less moisture, it precipitates as frost primarily only at the heat exchanger of the secondary circuit located in the separated area and the coldest point in the no-frost home appliance having contact with air. It may then be provided that a defrost mode is performed at specific time intervals, in which this first heat exchanger is defrosted in the separated area. For this purpose, in particular a heating device is provided in the no-frost domestic refrigeration appliance, by which a heating of this heat exchanger is performed. The resulting then from the thawing ice layer water can run out of the interior and thus also from the device via a gutter and can be collected in a collecting bowl, which can also serve as an evaporation tank. In particular, the fan is deactivated in the defrost mode, so that the freezer compartment remains cooled. Thanks to the no-frost technology, the freezing of cooling fins is significantly reduced and the humidity in the entire domestic refrigeration unit drops, which also significantly reduces the formation of ice layers.

With an exemplary, relatively simple method, the humidity in the freezer compartment is significantly reduced in a no-frost device. This is achieved in particular by a separation of the cooling fins from the actual cooling area or cooling compartment, wherein the cold air is conveyed by means of a fan in the freezer compartment or the freezer compartment. The cold air circulates as a circuit through all compartments of the refrigerator and re-enters the refrigerator section. Since it can absorb the moisture only poorly, and can hold less well, this beats down on the cooling fins. These are heated and defrosted at regular time intervals and the water preferably passes, for example via a channel, into an evaporation container. The humidity in the whole device sinks and almost no ice layers are formed. In contrast to conventional devices, the majority of the resulting moisture, which leads to the freezing of conventional freezers, accumulates in household refrigerators with no-frost technology in the separate area of the cooling fins.

This principle of the no-frost technique also applies to an embodiment of the cooling device as No-F rost-Kü hlvorrichtung.

The terms "top", "bottom", "front", "rear", "horizontal", "vertical", "depth direction", "width direction", "height direction", etc., are the positions given when the device was used and disposed as intended and orientations indicated.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in other combinations without the scope of the invention leave. Thus, embodiments of the invention are to be regarded as encompassed and disclosed, which are not explicitly shown and explained in the figures, however, emerge and can be produced by separated combinations of features from the embodiments explained. Embodiments and combinations of features are also to be regarded as disclosed, which thus do not have all the features of an originally formulated independent claim. Moreover, embodiments and combinations of features, in particular by the embodiments set out above, are to be regarded as disclosed, which go beyond or deviate from the combinations of features set out in the back references of the claims.

• 1 eine vereinfachte Schnittdarstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Haushaltskältegeräts;
• 2 eine vereinfachte Frontansicht auf das Haushaltskältegerät gemäß 1;
• 3 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines Teilbereichs des Haushaltskältegeräts gemäß 1 und 2 in einem gekoppelten Zustand eines Lagerbehälters mit einer Austrittsöffnung eines Luftkreislaufs des Haushaltskältegeräts; und
• 4 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines Teilbereichs des Haushaltskältegeräts gemäß 1 und 2 in einem entkoppelten Zustand eines Lagerbehälters mit einer Austrittsöffnung eines Luftkreislaufs des Haushaltskältegeräts.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

• 1 a simplified sectional view of an embodiment of a household refrigerator according to the invention;
• 2 a simplified front view of the household refrigerator according to 1 ;
• 3 a schematic sectional view of a portion of the household refrigerator according to 1 and 2 in a coupled state of a storage container with an outlet opening of an air circuit of the household refrigerator; and
• 4 a schematic sectional view of a portion of the household refrigerator according to 1 and 2 in a decoupled state of a storage container with an outlet opening of an air circuit of the household refrigerator.

In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

In 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view (sectional plane is y - z Level) a household refrigerator 1 shown, which may be a refrigerator or a freezer or a combination refrigerator-freezer.

The household refrigerator 1 has a housing 2 on which an inner container 3 surrounds. The inner container 3 limited with its walls a receiving space or interior or storage area 4 , in particular a cooling compartment, which is designed to receive food. In addition, the same inner container limited 3 or another inner container another receiving space or interior or a storage area 5 , in particular a freezer, in which food can also be introduced.

Front are the storage areas 4 and 5 through separate doors 6 and 7 closable.

The household refrigerator 1 can also have a refrigeration cycle, by means of which the corresponding temperature in the storage areas 4 and 5 can be generated. The refrigeration cycle has in particular an evaporator 8th , a condenser and a compressor and corresponding connecting lines in which a refrigerant circulates. In a preferred provided no-frost household refrigerator 1 is the evaporator 8th , in particular a finned evaporator, outside the storage area 4 and outside the storage area 5 and separated arranged. The evaporator 8th is in one of the storage area 5 separated evaporator chamber 9 arranged. With a fan 10 will air to the evaporator 8th flowed, which is then cooled and an air duct system, in particular a multi-air system, also to the storage area 4 is directed.

The fan 10 is preferably also in the evaporator chamber 9 arranged. The household refrigerator 1 also has an air circulation 11 on, which is assigned to the refrigeration cycle. By means of this air circulation 11 , which in particular has the multi-air duct system, the cold air from the evaporator chamber 9 in the storage area 4 and here also in the storage area 5 circulated.

This is also an air duct 12 provided in the storage area 4 is arranged at the back and is closed by appropriate walls. In the embodiment shown here is the air duct 12 on a back wall 13 of the inner container 3 arranged. The air duct 12 has a front wall 14 on that the storage area 4 is facing. In this front wall 14 are, as in the front view of the household refrigerator 1 in 2 it can be seen, several outlet openings 15 . 16 . 17 and 18 educated. In the opened state of these outlet openings 15 to 18 can cold air in the storage area 4 flow.

In 1 In addition, it is also shown that the household refrigerator 1 a storage container 19 having. The storage container 19 is to the inner container 3 separately and therefore also to the storage area 4 separately. The storage container 19 is in that storage area 4 movable, in particular slidably attachable. In the embodiment, the storage container 19 designed in particular for storing bottles, in which case by way of example a bottle 20 is shown. The storage container 19 is preferably designed as a box. This means that it is preferably a trough or a shell 21 and in particular a lid 22 having. As a result, this self-contained box can be formed and a home 23 which also has a storage space or a storage volume of this storage container 19 is defined, is then completely closed or sheathed.

It is envisaged that the storage container 19 with the air circulation 11 , in particular the air duct 12 , can be linked individually. In particular, it is provided that the storage container 19 on a back wall 24 a coupling element, in particular in the form of a coupling channel 25 having. The coupling channel 25 , which may be formed tube-like or trough-like, is projecting to the rear. It can be provided that in a coupling position of the storage container 19 this with the coupling channel 25 with an outlet opening, here in particular the lower outlet opening 18 , is coupled. In this context, the coupling channel can 25 in the outlet opening 18 extend into it, in particular fit in perfectly. In this coupled state is thus the cold air L from the air duct 12 directly into the storage container 19 initiated. It can be provided that in this coupled state other outlet openings 15 to 17 , in particular all other outlet openings 15 to 17 are closed. This can be a displacement device 26 ( 2 ) of the household refrigerator 1 be provided. This displacement device 26 can be a sliding plate in a particularly simple embodiment, which can be moved manually, in particular by a user. It can be provided that the displacement plate is integrally formed and for opening and closing all the outlet openings 15 to 17 is formed simultaneously. However, it can also be provided that the outlet openings 15 to 17 each have their own sliding plate so that they can be closed or opened individually and independently of the other outlet openings.

It can thus be achieved that in this coupled state, the cold air L only in the storage container 19 flows. More cold air L then does not reach the storage area 4 because the outlet openings 15 to 17 are closed in this advantageous embodiment. This allows a particularly efficient rapid cooling function for rapid cooling of the stored goods in the storage container 19 through the incoming cold air L be achieved.

In particular, it is provided that if no coupled state of the storage container 19 with the air duct 12 is directly desired, the storage container 19 nevertheless in the storage area 4 with then also locked door 6 can be positioned. There is then no quick cooling function activated, yet the storage container 19 permanently in the storage area 4 arranged and can be provided with individual storage conditions or the storage conditions in the storage area 4 get abandoned.

In 3 is a schematic representation of a portion of the household refrigerator 1 shown. It is here the decoupled state of the storage container 19 shown in which the coupling channel 25 completely separated from the air duct 12 , in particular not in engagement with the outlet opening 18 is. In this condition, the cold air flows L in the storage area 4 one. As can be seen, the coupling channel 25 at an upper end of the shell 21 arranged like a spoiler to the rear. In particular, the shell 21 integral with the coupling channel 25 educated. In contrast, in corresponding representation in 4 the coupled state of the storage container 19 with the outlet 18 shown. As can be seen here, the coupling channel protrudes 25 in the air duct 12 over the exit opening 18 into it, so that the cold air L directly into the interior 23 of the storage container 19 flows. In both defined positions of the storage container 19 in the storage area 4 can the door 6 be completely closed and in particular closed. In the closed state of the door 6 can the storage container 19 Therefore, be arranged in at least two different positions in the depth direction (X direction) considered in which defined flow states of the cold air L on the storage container 19 are given, once an influx into the interior 23 and on the other hand in particular a flow from the outside without a direct inflow into the interior 23 ,

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Household refrigerator

2

casing

3

inner container

4

inner space

5

inner space

6

door

7

door

8th

Evaporator

9

evaporator chamber

10

Fan

11

Air circuit

12

air duct

13

rear wall

14

front wall

15

outlet opening

16

outlet opening

17

outlet opening

18

outlet opening

19

storage containers

20

bottle

21

Bowl

22

cover

23

Interior

24

rear wall

25

coupling channel

26

Shifter

L

air

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102009000847 A1 [0002]

Claims (10)

Domestic refrigeration appliance (1) with a housing (2) in which at least one storage area (4, 5) is designed for food, with an air circuit (11), with which cold air (L) in the storage area (4, 5) can be introduced wherein the air circuit (11) has outlet openings (15, 16, 17, 18) from which cold air (L) can flow into the storage area (4, 5), with a storage container (19) for food in the storage area (4, 5) is slidably disposed, and with a door (6, 7) for closing the storage area (4, 5), which is movably arranged on the housing (2), wherein the storage container (19) in a coupling position in the Storage area (4, 5) is coupled to the air circuit (11) and in a coupled state cold air (L) of the air circuit (11) in the storage container (4, 5) can be flowed, characterized in that the storage container (19) in a state decoupled to the coupled state in the storage area (4, 5) is positionable in in which the storage container (19) is decoupled from an outlet opening (15 to 18) and in which it is arranged completely inside the storage area (4, 5) when the door (6, 7) is closed. Household refrigerator (1) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the storage container (19) on a rear wall (24) has a coupling channel (25), with which a coupling with an outlet opening (15 to 18) can be generated, so that in the coupled state cold air (L) on the Outlet opening (15 to 18) and the coupling channel (25) in the interior (23) of the storage container (19) can flow. Household refrigerator (1) after Claim 2 , characterized in that the coupling channel (25) is formed integrally with the storage container (19). Household refrigerator (1) after Claim 3 , characterized in that the coupling channel (25) is designed as from the rear wall (24) rearwardly projecting pipe socket or gutter socket. Domestic refrigerating appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage container (19) is a container with a shell (21) and a lid (22) is formed, in particular the container in the attached state of the lid (22) on the shell (21) is completely closed. Domestic refrigerating appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air circuit (11) has a multi-air duct system which defines an air duct (12) on a rear wall (13) which limits the storage area (4, 5). wherein the outlet openings (15 to 18) are formed on the air channel (12). Domestic refrigeration appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a quick cooling function for the interior (23) of the storage container (19) is formed by the coupled state. Domestic refrigerating appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air circuit (11) has a locking device (26) with which in the coupled state other, in particular all other outlet openings (15 to 18), with the storage container (19) not directly coupled, lockable. Household refrigerator (1) after Claim 8 , characterized in that the obstruction (26) has at least one sliding plate. Domestic refrigerating appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the household refrigerating appliance (1) is a no-frost household refrigerating appliance.

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